50, 25 and 15 years ago this week | HISTORY CORNER

The following are segments of stories taken from the South Whidbey Record 50, 25 and 15 years ago this week.

50 years ago

Editor Dan Stebbins

Lions Crab Fee Draws Over 1000

“This year’s crab feed was one of the most successful ever. The long anticipated annual event began at 4 p.m.Saturday, and by 4:30 the school cafeteria was full.

“Big eaters from all over Puget Sound came to fill themselves with fresh crab, garlic bread, tangy sauce, coffee and ice cream. South Whidbey Lions spent many hours the previous night preparing food and drink.

“The crab was served family style in large tin buckets. The food at each table went quickly keeping Lions and 10 Boy Scouts constantly running to the kitchen for replenishment.

During the four hours of cracking 1,000 pounds of crab was consumed. Dozens of loaves of garlic bread, 20 gallons of crab sauce, 20 pounds of coffee and 1,000 cups of ice cream filled 1029 stomachs.”

10 Mill Special Levy April 11

Ralph Denham, superintendent of schools, has indicated that a special levy will again be required to operate South Whidbey schools in 1967-68. April 11 has been set as the date for this special election.

He continued, “The school board passed a resolution in their regular February meeting indicating an intent to hold an election for about 10 mills. They had hoped that by the March meeting new information from the legislature would make it possible to reduce this amount. It now appears that the legislature will not be appropriating adequate funds to cover all needs.”

25 years ago

Editor Jim Larsen

Harassment policy adopted

“Island County joined the ranks of the politically correct Monday by adopting a policy banning harassment in the workplace.

“The policy prohibits not only sexual harassment, but also outlaws slurs and jokes directed toward nonAmericans, disabled persons or any recognized minority.

“The resolution, approved unanimously by the county commissioners, was long overdue, said Chairman Gordon Koetje.

“‘It’s something you know is quite noticeable if you watch TV,’” Koetje said.

Enforcement noise ordinance sought

“When Langley resident Herman Visser set off one of the city’s biggest little controversies this year with his musical chimes, the city found that its noise ordinance had no teeth.

“The city also found it had not decibel meter or qualified technician to rush out to the scene of an auditory disturbance to record the volume of the event.

“And even if the city had all these things in place, the Visser chimes, which residents either loved or loathed, would have never tripped the decibel level necessary for legal action. The ordinance contained no nuisance clause.”

15 years ago

Editor Matt Johnson

County could buy lagoon

“After eyeing one of Whidbey Island’s largest wetlands for several years, Island County came a big step closer to owning Deer Lagoon this week.

“The federal government dropped a wetlands conservation grant totaling $800,000 on the county earlier in the week, giving proponents of a plan to buy the 379 acres of land for the public good reason to believe the $2.7 million property could be permanently protected from development by the end of the year.”

State budget cuts hit island school districts

“When a controversial and, to some, shocking $98.6 million slash in education funding rumbled in with the state’s final budget last week, the reverberations hit Island County schools.

“The impact of the budget cuts on local school districts is significant. According to figures projected by the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Coupeville schools will lose $177,846 in state funding, while the Oak Harbor district will see a whopping $574,335 go away.

“On South Whidbey, $330,000 will probably get sliced out of the budget, according to district Superintendent Martin Laster.